1393 Senator
O’Brien: To ask the Minister representing the Minister for
Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry—With reference to the Minister’s
statement AFFA02/289WT of 17 October 2002 announcing the provision and
requirements under the Sugar Industry Reform Program relating to Sugar
Enterprise Viability Assessments (SEVAs) and Sugar Enterprise Activity
Plans (SEAPs):

(1) How many applications have been received to date for the preparation
of SEVAs and SEAPs from: (a) cane farmers; and (b) cane harvesters.

(2) How many SEVAs and SEAPs have been completed to date for: (a) cane
farmers; and (b) cane harvesters.

(3) With reference to Fact Sheet SE020.0210 (page 1) accompanying the
Minister’s statement: (a) what are the ‘special provisions’ that
customers who have accessed Farm Help within the past 12 months prior
to claiming will be subject to; (b) how many calls have been received
on the 1800 050 585 telephone number from: (i) cane farmers, and (ii)
cane harvesters, querying their position regarding these ‘special
provisions’ and the preparations of SEVAs and SEAPs; and (c) how many,
(i) cane growers, and (ii) cane harvesters, have had their access eligibility
for funds to pay for SEVAs or SEAPs reduced or rejected on the basis
of these ‘special provisions’.

(4) What has been the total expenditure by the Commonwealth on SEVAs
or SEAPs to date under the Sugar Industry Reform Program.

(5) What is the total projected expenditure by the Commonwealth on
SEVAs or SEAPs under the Sugar Industry Reform Program.

1394 Senator
O’Brien: To ask the Minister representing the Minister for
Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry—With reference to the Minister’s
statement AFFA03/008WT of 5 February 2003 announcing the provision under
the Sugar Industry Reform Program of the availability of sugar industry
exit grants:

(1) On what date do applications for these grants close.

(2) How many application forms for these grants have been distributed
to date.

(3) On what date did the application form become available on a Commonwealth
website.

(4) On what date did the printed application form become available.

(5) On what date were the first application forms mailed to potential
applicants.

(6) To date how many applications for these grants have been: (a) received;
(b) rejected; and (c) approved.

(7) What has been the total expenditure by the Commonwealth on these
grants to date.

(8) What is the total projected expenditure on these grants under the
Sugar Industry Reform Program.

1395 Senator
O’Brien: To ask the Minister representing the Minister for
Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry—With reference to the Minister’s
statement AFFA02/300WT of 29 October 2002 announcing the provision under
the Sugar Industry Reform Program of 50 per cent interest rate subsidies
over two years on loans of up to $50,000 taken out for replanting purposes:

(1) On what date do applications for these subsidies close.

(2) How many application forms for these subsidies have been distributed
to date.

(3) On what date did the application form become available on a Commonwealth
website.

(4) On what date did the printed application form become available.

(5) On what date were the first application forms mailed to potential
applicants.

(6) To date, how many applications for these subsidies have been: (a)
received; (b) rejected; and (c) approved.

(7) What has been the total expenditure by the Commonwealth on these
subsidies to date.

(8) What is the total projected expenditure on these subsidies under
the Sugar Industry Reform Program.

1396 Senator
O’Brien: To ask the Minister representing the Minister for
Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry—With reference to the Minister’s
statement of 10 September 2002 (reference AFFA02/233WT) announcing the
provision of short-term income support measures to help stabilise the
industry and to help those in immediate need:

(1) How many applications had been received from cane farmers for these
measures as at 31 December 2002 and as at 31 March 2003.

(2) How many applications from cane farmers had been approved for these
measures as at 31 December 2002 and as at 31 March 2003.

(3) How many applications from cane farmers had been rejected for these
measures as at 31 December 2002 and as at 31 March 2003.

(4) How many applications had been received from cane harvesters for
these measures as at 31 December 2002 and as at 31 March 2003.

(5) How many applications had been approved for cane harvesters for
these measures as at 31 December 2002 and as at 31 March 2003.

6) How many applications from cane harvesters had been rejected for
these measures as at 31 December 2002 and as at 31 March 2003.

(7) What has been the total expenditure by the Commonwealth on these
measures as at 31 December 2002 and as at 31 March 2003 for: (a) cane
farmers; and (b) cane harvesters.

(8) What is the total projected expenditure under these measures for:
(a) cane farmers; and (b) cane harvesters.

1397 Senator
O’Brien: To ask the Minister representing the Minister for
Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry—

(1) (a) When did the Minister become aware that the CSIRO plant laboratories
in Canberra were suspected of being infected with wheat streak mosaic
virus; (b) who advised the Minister; and (c) how was the Minister advised.

(2) (a) When did the Minister become aware that the CSIRO plant laboratories
in Canberra were confirmed as being infected with wheat streak mosaic
virus; (b) who advised the Minister; and (c) how was the Minister advised.

(3) When did CSIRO first suspect that its plant laboratories in Canberra
were infected with wheat streak mosaic virus.

(4) With reference to the suspicion by CSIRO that its Canberra or other
plant laboratories were infected with wheat streak mosaic virus (i.e.
before the virus was confirmed as being present in the Canberra laboratories
in April 2003): (a) what actions were taken by the Commonwealth (and
on what dates) to advise the following stakeholders: (i) rural industry
peak bodies, (ii) state government agriculture ministers and/or their
departments, (iii) individual growers, (iv) appropriate government agencies
within overseas trading nations, and (v) any other stakeholders; and
(b) in each instance: (i) who was advised, and (ii) how were they advised.

(5) Did the Department advise Plant Health Australia (PHA) of CSIRO’s
suspicion that wheat streak mosaic virus may be present in its Canberra
or other plant laboratories; if so, when and how was PHA advised.

(6) With reference to the confirmation by CSIRO that its Canberra plant
laboratories were infected with wheat streak mosaic virus: (a) what
actions were taken by the Commonwealth (and on what dates) to advise
the following stakeholders: (i) rural industry peak bodies, (ii) state
government agriculture ministers and/or their departments, (iii) individual
growers, (iv) appropriate government agencies within overseas trading
nations, and (v) any other stakeholders; and (b) in each instance: (i)
who was advised, and (ii) how were they advised.

(7) Did the Minister’s Department advise Plant Health Australia (PHA)
of CSIRO’s confirmation that wheat streak mosaic virus was present
in their Canberra or other plant laboratories; if so, on what day and
how was PHA advised.

(8) With reference to the suspicion by CSIRO that its Canberra plant
laboratories were infected with wheat streak mosaic virus (i.e. before
the virus was confirmed as being present in April 2003) what actions
were taken by the Commonwealth to trace the destination of plant seeds
or other plant material from CSIRO plant laboratories in Canberra.

(9) With reference to the confirmation by CSIRO that its Canberra plant
laboratories were infected with wheat streak mosaic virus: (a) what
actions were taken by the Commonwealth to trace the destination of plant
seeds, or other plant material from CSIRO plant laboratories in Canberra;
and (b) can a list of confirmed destinations be provided.

(10) On what date did the Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service
(AQIS) commence investigations to determine the source of the suspected
introduction of wheat streak mosaic virus into the CSIRO Canberra plant
laboratories.

(11) (a) What actions were taken by AQIS to determine the source of
the introduction of wheat streak mosaic virus into the CSIRO Canberra
plant laboratories; and (b) what was the outcome of those enquiries
(if completed).

(12) If AQIS has not completed its investigations, when are those investigations
likely to be concluded.

1399 Senator
O’Brien: To ask the Minister representing the Minister for
Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry—With reference to the Minister’s
statement AFFA02/300WT of 29 October 2002 announcing that a “levy
will be placed on all domestic sugar sales (for manufacturing, food
service and retail uses) at 3 cents a kilogram for approximately 5 years”
(sugar tax) and that exports of refined sugar will be exempt from the
levy, and that a rebate will be available for sugar used in manufactured
products for export (sugar tax rebate):

(1) How many Australian companies or other enterprises are currently
paying the sugar tax.

(2) For each of the 5 years of its proposed existence, what is the
total projected amount to be collected under the sugar tax.

(3) How much has been collected under the sugar tax to date.

(4) How many Australian companies or other enterprises have applied
for a sugar tax rebate to date.

(5) For each of the 5 years of its proposed existence, what is the
total projected amount to be repaid to Australian companies or other
enterprises under the sugar tax rebate.

(6) What steps is the Commonwealth taking to monitor the effect of
the sugar tax on Australian companies or other enterprises in terms
of: (a) international price competitiveness of Australian manufactured
products which use sugar as an input; (b) employment growth or decline
within Australian manufacturing sectors which produce goods which use
sugar as an input; (c) the increase or decrease in sugar imports by
Australian manufacturing sectors which produce goods which use sugar
as an input; (d) the increase or decrease in sugar exports by Australian
manufacturing sectors which produce goods which use sugar as an input;
(e) the substitution of sugar with non-sugar products by Australian
manufacturing sectors which produce goods which normally use sugar as
an input; and (f) the substitution within the Australian market of the
consumption of manufactured sugar bearing products manufactured in Australia
with imported manufactured sugar bearing products.

(7) What is the department’s current estimate of how much the sugar
tax will cost to administer for: (a) the department; and (b) industry.

(8) What is the department’s current estimate of how much the sugar
tax rebate will cost to administer for: (a) the department; and (b)
industry.